Luxury Vehicles Linked to Ex-Lawmaker Zaldy Co Seized in BGC Raid

Authorities seized eight luxury vehicles allegedly linked to former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co during a joint law enforcement operation at a condominium building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Thursday, January 8, amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of flood control funds.

According to the Philippine National Police, the operation was led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), following search warrants issued for vehicles believed to be connected to the former lawmaker. Police Colonel John Guiagui, CIDG-NCR chief, said a total of 15 vehicles were under monitoring, although only nine were covered by search warrants.

Out of the nine vehicles covered, only eight were found at the condominium’s parking area during the operation. While authorities did not disclose the total value of the seized assets, the vehicles included high-end models such as a Rolls-Royce, Toyota Sequoia, Cadillac Escalade, and Lexus.

The seized vehicles were transferred to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) facility in Taguig City for temporary custody after the Bureau of Customs reported it had no available storage space.

During the operation, at least five additional vehicles not covered by the search warrants were also taken into custody by the PNP Highway Patrol Group due to alarm hits and initial violations.

“We found 13 vehicles here in total during our operation. The others that are not covered by the search warrants will be taken by the HPG,” Guiagui said.

“There are alarms and initial violations such as not being registered or having no registration. Aside from that, we also found vehicles with no records. These are questionable,” he added.

Guiagui also disclosed that two vehicles were removed from the parking area before the arrival of CIDG operatives.

“We don’t know [who took them]. Last night (Jan. 7), the Taguig City Police Station, which was mandated and ordered to secure the vehicles so none would be removed, reported that there were attempts to take some vehicles out. Luckily, our police were there,” he said.

“But two [vehicles] were taken out before we arrived,” he added.

Investigators noted that the vehicles were registered under different individuals and corporate entities, including Sunwest Incorporated, a construction firm allegedly linked to Co. Other vehicles were reportedly registered under Co’s spouse and several hotel firms.

Aside from CIDG, the operation was conducted in coordination with the Highway Patrol Group, Bureau of Customs, and the Land Transportation Office. While the search warrants authorized authorities to look for possible evidence inside the vehicles, Guiagui confirmed that no documents or personal belongings were recovered.

“We did not find any documents or belongings inside the vehicles except the vehicles themselves,” he said.

Guiagui said authorities are now preparing to apply for a warrant to determine the ownership of the condominium parking slots where the vehicles were found.

“In a condominium, a parking slot corresponds to a condo unit. We need to know who owns them. If there is no condominium unit, then whose lot is this? These parking slots are paid for. We need to know who owns them,” he said.

“We will do it as soon as possible,” he added.